3 Tips for Dealing With Referrals From Other Construction Professionals

contractor4
When it comes to finding new clients for construction work in California, you can’t beat a referral from another licensed contractor. After all, when customers have already heard good things about you from someone they know and trust, it doesn’t just increase the odds they’ll hire you, but also that the project will go smoothly.

But, there is an etiquette and process to handling referrals that a lot of contractors don’t understand. As a result, they don’t get as many referrals from other construction professionals as they could. Here are three tips you can use to keep the recommendations coming your way:

1. Always thank someone for sending business your way. The easiest thing you can do to attract more referrals is to simply let others know you appreciate them. Depending on the size of the project, and the relationship you have with the other contractor, consider getting them a small gift, or picking up the next round of drinks as a “thank you.”

2. Do great work. Although a referral can seem like a simple thing, there is a lot of trust that’s implied. That’s because, if the project doesn’t go the way it should, it won’t just be you who isn’t hired again – the contractor who gave your name is probably not going to get any more work, either. So, make sure you leave the right kind of impression, for yourself and the other contractor.

3. Return the favor when you can. In a perfect world, people would send you referrals because you’re great at what you do, and not simply in the hopes that you’ll do the same. But, if you trust them and can vouch for the quality of their work, why not return the favor and send some projects back to them when you can? You’ll build a stronger professional relationship, and can make things easier for your client at the same time (since referrals mean they don’t have to spend time looking for contractors).

Getting lots of referrals for construction projects can make your life much, much easier. So, it’s up to you to follow these tips and make it easy for others to send clients your way.

Looking for the best way to become a licensed contractor in California? Check out our classroom and Internet courses – with more than 25 years of experience and a 99.9% first-time passing rate, we’ve earned a reputation as the industry leader for a reason.